What a Roof Replacement Scope Should Name in San Jose

What must the licence check confirm?

The licence check confirms that the roofer holds a C-39 classification and that the licence is active on the day it is checked. It does not confirm the quality of the work, which the scope and the inspection must do.

The board lists licence status and the classification on its own website. The owner checks the number the roofer gives and writes down the name, the status and the date.

A licence record that does not match the business signing the contract is a difference to be explained before any deposit is paid.

Why does a C-39 roofer need workers' compensation cover?

A C-39 roofer must carry workers' compensation coverage even with no employees. The board's 2018 newsletter says so directly, and a 2022 industry bulletin says all active contractors need a valid certificate by 1 January 2026 under SB 216.

A roof is a steep and slippery place to work, and an injury there is serious. A roofer without a current certificate leaves an injured worker, and sometimes the property owner, without the cover the law expects.

The owner asks for the current certificate and checks its dates against the job. A certificate that expires during the work is a reason to ask for a fresh one before the work resumes.

What must the scope name line by line?

The scope names the strip, the deck repairs, the underlayment, the flashing, the covering, the ventilation, the drip edge and the clean-up. Each line has a material and a method, so it can be checked later.

A scope that says only re-roof gives the owner nothing to check. The lines show which parts were replaced and which were kept, and the sequence in which the work will be done.

The scope also states how old material is disposed of, how the building is protected and how the yard is cleaned. Those lines are often forgotten, and they matter on the day the crew leaves.

The scope also says where the old covering goes. A tear-off creates a heavy load of waste, and the owner should know how it will be carried away and whether any of it will be kept for future repairs. A salvaged piece of tile or a spare bundle of the new shingle is named on the scope, so the owner has the matching stock for a future fault.

How are changes to the scope handled?

A change to the scope is written as a change order before the work changes. It names the new line, the reason and the effect on the timeline, and it is signed by both parties.

Roofs often hide a fault until the covering is off, and a rotted section of deck may need replacing once it is found. The crew stops, photographs the fault and writes the change, so the owner agrees before the work continues.

A verbal agreement to change the scope is not a record. The owner should ask for every change in writing, even a small one.

Where does the paperwork go?

In one file: the signed scope, the licence record, the certificate, the photographs, the change orders and the final inspection notes. That file is the first document any later repair or claim will ask for.

A short index at the front lists each document and its date, so a later question can be answered at once. The file also holds the manufacturer's product details and any written workmanship terms.

No warranty is stated on this page. The owner reads the terms the company and the manufacturer give, and asks about any term that is unclear before signing.

What if the roofer uses a subcontractor for part of the job?

A subcontractor who works on the roof must hold the licence that its own work requires, and the owner should know who that is before the crew arrives. The subcontractor's licence and certificate are checked in the same way as the main roofer's.

The owner asks for the names and licence numbers of anyone who will work on the roof, and writes them into the file beside the scope. A change of crew after the scope is signed is a change order, and the new names are checked before work resumes.

A subcontractor who was not named in the scope is a question to raise in writing before the next visit. The answer belongs in the file alongside the licence records.

Why keep the warranty terms apart from the scope?

The warranty terms are a separate document from the scope. The manufacturer's terms cover the product and the company's own terms, if it gives one, cover the workmanship, and the two should not be confused in the file.

The scope describes the work. The warranty describes what the maker or the company promises about it, for how long and on what conditions. A reader who keeps them apart can see which promise belongs to which party.

This page states no warranty of its own. The owner reads the terms the manufacturer and the company provide and asks about any term that is unclear before the contract is signed.